How to Plant Autumn Bulbs for a Flower-Filled Spring
Do you want fantastic flowers blanketing your garden this spring? It’s time to start planning. Keep reading for some tips on preparing, positioning, and planting your flowering bulbs this autumn.
PREP
First thing’s first, the best flowering bulbs to plant in autumn for a spectacular spring are—anemones, Dutch iris, freesias, hyacinths, daffodils, and later on, tulips.
As with most gardening ventures, it’s best to plan ahead when planting bulbs. If you’re in a warmer climate, you may need to chill your bulbs for a few weeks before planting to simulate cooler weather. If so, place your bulbs in your fridge veggie crisper in a carefully labelled paper bag. Trust me, you do not want to mistake flower bulbs for onions!
Preparing your soil early is also important for successful bulb rearing. If you’re planting directly in the ground, till your soil with a hand trowel. Remove rocks, weeds, and tree roots, and ensure your soil is nice and loose and crumbly. For garden beds and pots, purchase some high-quality potting mix and keep it at the ready.
POSITION
Next, decide on the perfect position for your bulbs. We tend to put plants wherever we want them, but this isn’t always what’s best for the plant.
It depends on the variety of bulb, but generally, most bulbs need a decent amount of sun. So, choose a position that gets at least some direct sunlight, preferably in the morning. Well-draining, nutrient-filled soil is also a must, so steer away from areas where the ground is tightly packed.
PLANTING
The old saying states that bulbs should be planted at a depth twice their width. However, in Australia, it can be beneficial to go a little deeper. Plant bulbs at a depth three times their width to find the cooler soil.
Also, you’ll notice that most bulbs are teardrop-shaped. Plant them pointy end up so they’ll have a good shot at finding the surface when they sprout. However, anemones and ranunculus should be planted pointy end down. Once your bulbs are in the ground, water them in, then hold off on the watering until their shoots reach the surface. Once they’ve sprouted, water as required. And in no time at all, you’ll have a spring flower display that’ll have your neighbours green with envy!
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